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NFL Playoffs League - FFL: Week 1 | NFL: Week 3

Studs and Duds: Divisional Round

Mon Jan 22 9:38am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Kelce comes up big for Chiefs


Well, that was a lot better. The games were really good this weekend. Even the first one that ended up pretty lopsided. It was still good for the half. The rest of the games were really entertaining, though. Most of them were really back and forth, and could have gone to either team in the end. It made for some great entertainment. And the fantasy numbers weren’t too bad, either. There were some really big games this weekend. Hopefully, you were able to take advantage of some of those big games on all your playoff fantasy teams.

Ravens 34, Texans 10

Fantasy Stud: Lamar Jackson. Jackson proved why he is the front runner for MVP this year. He had a great game, going 16-of-22 for 152 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He also led the team in rushing, hitting the 100-yard mark. Jackson ran 11 times for 100 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson scored 37.6 fantasy points. He has 35-plus fantasy points three of five games

Fantasy Dud: C.J. Stroud. The Ravens did a great job of holding the impressive rookie in check. He did not score a touchdown in the game and failed to hit 200-passing yards. Stroud was 19-of-33 for 175 yards without a score or turnover. He still had a monster rookie season and is going to be one of the best fantasy quarterbacks for years to come.

Game Notes: Justice Hill had 13 carries for 66 yards, leading the Ravens in rushing for ar running back. He also caught two passes for 11 yards, finishing with 77 total yards.

Dalvin Cook made his Ravens debut and ran eight times for 23 yards. He got nearly all his work with the Ravens up big late in the game.

49ers 24, Packers 21

Fantasy Stud: Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey had his usual huge fantasy game. He ran 17 times for 98 yards and two touchdowns. He also had seven receptions for 30 yards. McCaffrey had 31.8 fantasy points. This was his fourth game this season with 30-plus fantasy points. McCaffrey just keeps posting huge numbers on a weekly basis

Fantasy Dud: Brandon Aiyuk. With Deebo Samuel sidelined much of the game, you thought Aiyuk might get a little more work. Well, that didn’t happen. Aiyuk was a disappointment to fantasy teams, catching just three passes for 32 yards. It was a down game for the star receiver.

Game Notes: Deebo Samuel injured his shoulder early in the game and was unable to return. He had two receptions for 24 yards. This is an injury to watch going forward. Samuel is a huge part of the 49ers offense.

Aaron Jones hit the 100-yard rushing mark. He had 18 carries for 108 yards. Jones finishes the season with five straight 100-yard games.

Lions 31, Bucs 23

Fantasy Stud: Jahmyr Gibbs. Gibbs had a big game rushing and receiving, showing his dual threat ability. He ran nine times for 74 yards and a touchdown. He also had four receptions for 40 yards, giving him 114 total yards and a score. Gibbs outproduced starter David Montgomery running the ball despite having one less carry.
  
Fantasy Dud: Chris Godwin. Godwin had one of his down games this week, catching four passes for 40 yards. He was up and down all season, so this shouldn’t be a huge surprise. Godwin still had a fine season but here is to hoping he can produce more consistent numbers next year.

Game Notes: Mike Evans had eight receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. This was his fourth 100-yard game of the season. Evans had a huge season and shows few signs of slowing down.

Jared Goff continued his great play in the playoffs, going 30-of-43 for 287 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He has 275-plus passing yards each of his two playoff games without a turnover.

Chiefs 27, Bills 24

Fantasy Stud: Travis Kelce. Kelce showed he can still play a big role in the playoffs. He had five receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns. This was his first two-touchdown game of the entire season. It was the fourth time he topped 20 fantasy points in a game, though. Kelce scored 24.5 fantasy points in this one.
  
Fantasy Dud: Stefon Diggs. Diggs was held in check once again, catching three passes for just 21 yards. It was kind of the theme of the second half of his season. Diggs really disappeared down the stretch, causing some concern for next season.

Game Notes: Josh Allen was huge in defeat, especially as a runner. He ran 12 times for 72 yards and two touchdowns. He also was 26-of-39 for 186 yards and a touchdown.

Isiah Pacheco had a solid game, rushing 15 times for 97 yards and a touchdown. He had a catch for 14 yards, giving him 111 total yards.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 3

Player Notes
Jerod Mayo Sep 20 12:20am ET
Jerod Mayo

New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo was non-committal when asked if he would consider a quarterback change heading into Week 4 of the 2024 season. "I don't know," Mayo told the media after Thursday's loss to the New York Jets. "We talk about it every single week: you're competing for a job. We'll get together as a coaching staff." Mayo pulled Jacoby Brissett in the waning minutes of a three-score game to get some reps for Drake Maye, who made his NFL debut. Maye led a solid drive, completing four of eight passes for 22 yards, rushing for 12 yards, and taking two sacks. He had the Patriots close to the end zone, but time expired before the Patriots could score. There were certainly some pros and cons from his limited sample size, and the biggest factor to consider is the offensive line. New England's pass protection has looked dreadful this season, so New England might not want to expose its No. 3 pick to tremendous pressure. That's especially true for Week 4 when the Patriots face a strong San Francisco 49ers defensive front. If Mayo wants to keep his young quarterback healthy and focus on his development, he'll likely roll out Brissett as his starter. But if the first-year head coach is ready to turn the page to a new chapter and throw Maye into the fire, that's well within the realm of possibilities. We should get more clarity on the Patriots' quarterback situation in the coming days.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Sep 19 11:53pm ET
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots QB Drake Maye replaced QB Jacoby Brissett in the fourth quarter of the Week 3 game against the New York Jets, completing four of his eight passes for 22 yards and rushing twice for 12 yards in a 24-3 loss.

Fantasy Spin: Maye will be the starter in New England at some point, and if the Patriots continue to lose, the rookie's time will come sooner rather than later. Maye should be stashed in keeper leagues.

From TheHuddle

Jacoby Brissett Sep 19 11:43pm ET
Jacoby Brissett

New England Patriots QB Jacoby Brissett completed 12 of his 18 passes for 98 yards in a 24-3 loss to the New York Jets in Week 3. He was sacked five times.

Fantasy Spin: Brissett and the New England offense were stuck in the mud all night, and rookie Drake Maye replaced Brissett late in fourth quarter. It might not be a premanent change just yet, but Brissett's time as the starter could be over in the near future.

From TheHuddle

Jabrill Peppers Sep 19 10:43pm ET
Jabrill Peppers

Updating a previous report, New England Patriots SS Jabrill Peppers (ankle) was able to return to the Week 3 game against the New York Jets.

From TheHuddle

Sam LaPorta Sep 19 10:00pm ET
Sam LaPorta

Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has been off to an extremely slow start to begin the 2024 season. Last week, quarterback Jared Goff threw for over 300 yards, but LaPorta finished with two receptions for 13 yards in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fantasy managers expected much more from LaPorta who recorded nearly 900 yards and scored 10 touchdowns during his rookie season last year. The hope is that LaPorta is able to bounce back against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 3. A defensive unit that has struggled early on, but has been able to keep the tight end in check. Despite that, LaPorta remains on the TE1 radar for a game that could be a shootout.

From RotoBaller

David Montgomery Sep 19 9:50pm ET
David Montgomery

Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery has been able to salvage his fantasy value by finding the end zone through the first two weeks of the season. Last week, Montgomery struggled with 35 yards on 11 rushing attempts in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Luckily, Montgomery was able to save his value with a touchdown on the ground and four receptions through the air helped as well. He figures to continue splitting up the workload with fellow back Jahmyr Gibbs. Montgomery has seen 11 or more attempts on the ground through the first two games. He should continue to remain a significant part of the offense during the Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The 27-year-old should be a fine RB2 against a shaky Cardinals defense.

From RotoBaller

Jahmyr Gibbs Sep 19 9:40pm ET
Jahmyr Gibbs

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs had plenty of success on the ground versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. The young back rushed 13 times for 84 yards all hauled in all seven of his targets for 22 yards in the loss. The Lions have made it clear early in the season that they want to get Gibbs heavily involved in this offense. He should continue to have success against the Arizona Cardinals defense in Week 3. The versatility of Gibbs makes him such an intriguing weapon on offense. He should remain a strong RB1 for Week 3.

From RotoBaller

Jabrill Peppers Sep 19 9:33pm ET
Jabrill Peppers

New England Patriots SS Jabrill Peppers (ankle) exited the Week 3 game against the New York Jets with an ankle injury and is questionable to return.

From TheHuddle

Jared Goff Sep 19 9:30pm ET
Jared Goff

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for over 300 yards, but still ended up having a bad performance last week. Goff was airing it out as he completed 34-of-55 passing attempts, but he threw zero touchdowns and two interceptions in the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Goff has 524 passing yards through two games as he heads into a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. A defensive unit that has struggled to contain the pass. Despite that, Goff hasn't done enough to be considered anything more than a QB2 heading into this game.

From RotoBaller

Jeff Wilson Sep 19 9:20pm ET
Jeff Wilson

Miami Dolphins running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) was able to get through a full practice session on Thursday. This is good news after Wilson opened the week with a limited session on Wednesday. Wilson is working his way back from an oblique injury he suffered during the Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Normally, Wilson isn't a huge part of the offense, but he could see an increased workload in Week 3. Fellow back Raheem Mostert (chest) remained limited on Thursday and is uncertain for the Week 3 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. If he sits, Wilson would be the No. 2 back behind De'Von Achane which should mean increased fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Roman Wilson Sep 19 8:50pm ET
Roman Wilson

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Roman Wilson (ankle) was limited in the first practice of the week on Wednesday but was upgraded to a full participant on Thursday, signaling that he could be on his way to making his NFL debut in Week 3 against the visiting Los Angeles Chargers unless he suffers a setback on Friday. Wilson has been recovering from an ankle injury since training camp last month, but after missing the first two weeks of his rookie campaign, the 23-year-old could be active this weekend versus the Bolts as Pittsburgh looks to start 3-0. The third-rounder is currently rostered in only 2% of Yahoo leagues, but he has potential to become a popular waiver-wire pickup in fantasy as the WR2 behind George Pickens. Initially, Wilson will be competing with Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin III and Scotty Miller for targets, but expect the Steelers to ease him into the offense.

From RotoBaller

Taysom Hill Sep 19 8:40pm ET
Taysom Hill

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill (chest) was listed as a limited practice participant on Thursday after he was held out of the first practice of the week on Wednesday. It's progress for Hill, but he could still be up in the air to play in a Week 3 home showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Swiss Army Knife left the Week 2 blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday with a chest injury and had to visit a local hospital in Dallas as a result. The Saints are surprisingly the highest-scoring offense in the league after two weeks, but it's discouraging that Hill has only eight carries for 53 yards while catching two of his three targets for just two yards. Hill played 32% of the offensive snaps in Week 1 before playing 47% of the snaps against Dallas. If the 34-year-old is able to play on Sunday, he'll be a boom/bust TE2 in fantasy, and if he's out, it will make Juwan Johnson a more appealing TE2 sleeper pick.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Sep 19 8:20pm ET
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (ankle) said earlier this week that he expects to make his 2024 season debut this Sunday in Week 3 at Lucas Oil Stadium against the visiting Chicago Bears. Downs put in a second straight day of full practice on Thursday, meaning he's well on his way to suiting up for the first time this year. A high-ankle sprain that he suffered last month in training camp kept Downs out for the first two games of the season. The Colts could ease him back into the offense, but those that have plucked Alec Pierce off the waiver wire the last couple of weeks can't be too stoked that Downs is on the verge of a return. If he's active in Week 3, he'll make for a risky flex option in fantasy lineups, but eventually, Downs is expected to be Indy's WR2 behind Michael Pittman Jr. after he caught 68 passes for 771 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games in his rookie season in 2023.

From RotoBaller

Matt Gay Sep 19 8:20pm ET
Matt Gay

Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay (quadriceps) did not take part in the first practice of the week on Wednesday, but he's now on track to play in Week 3 versus the Chicago Bears on Sunday after returning to a full practice participant on Thursday. Gay had surgery for a sports hernia right before the start of the regular season and was unable to kick in the Week 1 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans. He returned for the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, though, making one of his two field-goal tries and converting his only extra-point attempt. Barring a setback with his quad muscle, the 30-year-old veteran should be active this weekend against a strong Bears defense. The Bears defense has actually been a top-12 fantasy matchup for opposing kickers through two weeks, but after Indy's offense was shut down in Green Bay last week, fantasy managers should be looking to avoid a banged-up Gay.

From RotoBaller

Leonard Williams Sep 19 8:13pm ET
Leonard Williams

Seattle Seahawks LB Uchenna Nwosu (knee), S K'Von Wallace (shoulder), DT Jarran Reed (knee) and DT Johnathan Hankins (non-injury) did not participate in practice Thursday, Sept. 19. TE Brady Russell (shoulder), LB Jerome Baker (hamstring), LB Boye Mafe (knee), DT Leonard Williams (knee, shin), TE Pharaoh Brown (foot), TE Noah Fant (toe), OT George Fant (knee), LB Derick Hall (hip) and CB Devon Witherspoon (hamstring) were limited during practice. OG Laken Tomlinson (non-injury), WR Laviska Shenault Jr. (foot), LB Tyrel Dodson (shoulder) and OG Anthony Bradford (knee) fully participated in practice.

From TheHuddle

Dalton Schultz Sep 19 8:10pm ET
Dalton Schultz

Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (ankle) was able to practice in full on Thursday after he was listed as a limited participant for the first practice of the week on Wednesday. Even though Schultz is on the Week 3 injury report, his return to a full practice on Thursday should pave the way for him to be active this Sunday to take on the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings. There are a lot of mouths to feed through the air in this Houston offense, and Schultz has only garnered six targets through two games, hauling in five of them for 37 yards and no touchdowns. The slow start has pushed him down to TE2 territory in fantasy, but the Week 3 matchup against the Vikings could put him in play to have his best game of the early 2024 campaign. The Vikings defense has allowed the fifth-most half-PPR fantasy points to the tight end position through two games.

From RotoBaller

Raheem Mostert Sep 19 8:10pm ET
Raheem Mostert

Miami Dolphins running back Raheem Mostert (chest) put in his second straight day of limited practice this week on Thursday after he was held out of last Thursday night's loss to the division-rival Buffalo Bills on a short week. In addition, RB Jeff Wilson Jr. (oblique) upgraded to a full practice on Thursday after he was limited on Wednesday. The 32-year-old Mostert has apparently improved since last week, but he could still be questionable for the Week 3 game at Lumen Field against the Seattle Seahawks. In the Week 1 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mostert played 44% of the offensive snaps behind De'Von Achane and had only six carries for a measly nine rushing yards while catching two passes for 10 yards. Miami is going to rotate their backs in 2024, but it's clear that Achane is the favorite to lead in touches, and he also has the most upside of any Dolphins back. Mostert heads into Week 3 as a shaky fantasy RB.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Lockett Sep 19 8:03pm ET
Tyler Lockett

Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (thigh) was limited during practice Thursday, Sept. 19.

Fantasy Spin: Lockett should be ready to play in Week 3, but fantasy players can check closer to game time to see if anything changes. He will see a decent amount of targets if he plays and could be a possible flex option in most leagues.

From TheHuddle

Noah Fant Sep 19 8:00pm ET
Noah Fant

Seattle Seahawks tight ends Noah Fant (toe) and Pharaoh Brown (foot) were both listed as limited in Thursday's practice for the second straight day this week as they prepare to face off against the visiting Miami Dolphins in Week 3 at Lumen Field. Fant can't seem to shake his toe injury early this year, but it hasn't kept him from playing through the season's first two weeks. The 26-year-old has played at least 75% of the offensive snaps in coordinator Ryan Grubb's new offense, but it's led to only three catches on seven targets for 25 yards and no touchdowns in two weeks. He continues to be the fourth option for quarterback Geno Smith behind receivers DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, leaving him very little fantasy upside. Fant should be fine to suit up this weekend against Miami, where he should be considered a touchdown-dependent, low-end TE2.

From RotoBaller

D.K. Metcalf Sep 19 7:50pm ET
D.K. Metcalf

A day after sitting out of the first practice of the week, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf (hand) practiced in full on Thursday. As long as Metcalf doesn't suffer a setback with his hand on Friday, he should be good to go to play in Week 3 versus the Miami Dolphins at Lumen Field. The Dolphins defense has been pretty solid against opposing wideouts so far this year, but Metcalf should be considered a must-start in fantasy as long as he's active this Sunday. The 26-year-old pass-catcher was quiet in the season-opening win over the Denver Broncos with three catches for 29 yards before going off for 10 receptions (14 targets) for 129 yards and his first score of 2024 in last week's overtime victory over the New England Patriots.

From RotoBaller